Rebirth Into My Second Chance novel Chapter 31

I had to find Richard. But my spirit was fading fast, my upper half almost dissolving into thin air. Was I about to vanish from this world, never to uncover the final truth or witness the day they cleared my name?

‘Richard, where are you? Can you come to me, please? I'm fading away.’ I muttered to myself. ‘Please don't risk yourself for me again, okay? You already spent time behind bars because of Claude's scheme. It was all for me. You shouldn't ruin your life a second time for me!’

It seemed all I could do was cry. I really couldn't do anything else. I stayed at the police station, watching them pore over surveillance footage, waiting for Richard to make another threatening call. But Richard never called.

Claude even showed up at the station, pacing back and forth. He never seemed this worried when I went missing. But when Kate got kidnapped, he was in a frenzy. Suddenly, I wanted to see how far Claude would go for Kate.

"It's been twelve hours. How much time did the kidnapper give you?" Ronald asked Claude.

"Just twelve hours," Claude replied with a frown.

Ronald muttered a curse, then said, "Let's wait a bit more for the kidnapper to ring up."

But Claude got anxious and stood up, saying to Ronald, "Let's hold a press conference now. Tell the kidnapper I'll do as he asks. Otherwise, Kate’s grandma might fear the worst."

Ronald's forehead twitched with irritation, and he scoffed, "Your reaction is unusual. Your wife, Claire Floyd, has been missing for days, and you're calm. But the moment your first love is in trouble, you panic."

Claude's face darkened with anger. "Mr. Collins, I've told you. Kate is kind-hearted, while Claire is cunning and willing to do anything to achieve her goals. You see now what she's capable of. She's kidnapped Kate and is trying to ruin her reputation!"

Ronald didn't respond but signaled to a junior detective, who went off to arrange for some journalists for the press conference.

"Just do what she says, and forget about the comments you just made, in case you provoke her further," Ronald advised Claude, patting his shoulder.

Claude snorted in acknowledgment.

It seemed I could only watch from the sidelines. But I was more worried about Richard getting into trouble because I couldn't think of anyone else who would go to such lengths for me.

It was like when we were kids in the orphanage. My parents were always away, protecting Claude, so they were hardly ever home. They were close with the orphanage director, and since Richard and I were friends, they had me stay there. It wasn't because my parents had died, as people assumed.